Out of office: ON ✔️
Three tips for planning your corporate retreat at Oceanstone Seaside Resort
We’re going to let you in on a little secret : breaks are good for business.
Growingly, more and more employers are realizing the benefits of hosting a corporate retreat. Aside from an excuse to get out of the office for a couple of days, it gives staff the opportunity to reconnect as people – not just coworkers – i.e. important.
The overall goal of a retreat is to provide an atmosphere of relaxation. A welcoming, inclusive atmosphere in which creative solutions to current business issues will arise. It’s also an opportunity to get to know each other better.
Here are three things to consider when planning your company retreat:
LOCATION
When planning a business retreat, seek out a location that is conducive to both work and pleasure. Of course, things like high speed internet and a coffee machine are a must – but don’t underestimate the power of nature sights and sounds on productivity.
We recommend a quiet, remote place with limited distractions. Not only will this allow you to avoid the noise and distractions of a typical city hotel, but you will get more done. Of course- we say that with the most obvious of biases 😉 but it’s easy to stay focused when you can hear the waves crashing on the beach.
TEAM BUILDING FOR BUSINESS
Despite its reputation for being, well, lame; team building is an incredibly important part of your retreat. It builds trust, mitigates conflict, encourages communication, increases collaboration and best of all; it breaks up the work. Effective team building means more engaged employees, which is good for company culture and boosting the bottom line.
The most successful, memorable team-building activities are things that don’t feel like a day at the office. Activities that overtly aim to draw in leadership lessons or practical takeaways are less powerful. Spending time together, sharing an experience or working towards a common goal allows bonding to happen more organically and far more effectively.
Some examples of team building activities at your Oceanstone Executive Retreat:
- Private cooking class with Oceanstone’s Chef
- Paint Nite
- Board Game tournament (Jenga is a crowd favorite)
- Yoga class
THE GOAL for your BUSINESS
Like most things in life, the key to a successful retreat is establishing a solid plan. In creating a plan, you are ensuring that everyone in attendance feels like the time spent away was worthwhile; like they’ve learned something new, gained (and grown) friendships and fresh perspectives.
Be sure you define objectives and create an agenda that ensures you accomplish them.Keep your goals simple, clear and, if possible, measurable. Structure each day in a way that balances work and play.
Once all the planning details are taken care of, you get to focus on what’s truly important: building great work relationships and having fun with your colleagues. Enjoy – and don’t forget to turn on your out of office message!
Get more information about hosting your next corporate retreat at Oceanstone.